Traveling bag



May 5, 1931. o. l. SINGER TRAVELING BAG Filed May 23, 1928 Patented May5, 1931 UNiTED $T1TES RQTENT @FFIQE OSCAR I. SINGER, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SINGER BROS. COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A COPARTNERSI-IIP TRAVELING BAG Application filed May 23, 1928. SerialNo. 280,028.

This invention relates in general to improvements in traveling bags butmore specifically to an'improved reinforcing or bracing meansparticularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, withthe type of bag commonly known as Gladstone bags, and also with the typehaving two sections hinged together along one edge, and one of theobjects of the invention is to provide improved means for reinforcing orholding the upper bar or edge of both of the sections whereby the lockor fastening means which is located upon the top bar of one of theframes, and to which bar the handle is connected, will be relieved fromthe strain or weight of the contents of the bag.

Heret-ofore in devices of this character one of the frame members onlyhas been reinforced to protect the lock for the bag. It has been foundin use that the other frame member is subjected to considerable strainand unless reinforced in some manner, the frame will sprin or becomedistorted, there by causing considerable strain to be exerted upon thelock.

It is another object of the present invention to provide reinforcingmeans for both of these frame members. I

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new-anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully 1 described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and inwhich a Figure 1 is a top plan view of a traveling bag showing the sameopen and with parts broken away, and having a reinforcing meansconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention appliedthereto.

Figure 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly broken away andas taken 5- through the bracing or reinforcing means.

- Figure 8 IS a detail perspective view of a portion of the bracingmeans.

' Figure 4: is an enlarged detail sectional view, showing the bag partlyclosed and with a portion of thebracing means in position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and as usual in bags of thistype, there are provided two frames which are connected together alongone edge or hinged movement one with-respect to the other, one of theframes embodying a fastening device carrying member 10 to which theusual handle 11 .is secured and side members 12 which are hingedlyconnected by means of suitable hinges 13 with the side members 14 of theother frame member 15.

To the frame member 10 is connected the usual lock 16 and if desiredsuitable and the usual fastening means 17 may also be connected with themember 10. Co-operating with the lock 16 are the usual eyes or staples18, and co-operating members 19 are provided for the fastening devices17.

A connecting bar 20 extends across the frame members intermediate thehinges 13 and forms the base or support for the contents of the bag, allas usual in bags of this character.

When the bag is filled and closed and the same is transported by thehandle 11, all strain from the weight of the contents of the bag isexerted upon the lock 16 and the fastening devices 17, if the latter areemployed, with the result that eventually the lock will become injuredand the frame member 10 will become distorted or sprung out of shape ifa bracing or reinforcing means is not employed for the frame member 10.

Arranged within the bag is a flap 21 which is flexibly connected as at22, by one edge to the bag, preferably adjacent the bar or member 20 andis of a size to extend across and form a closure for each of the bagsections, in a manner also well known in this art.

Pivotally connected by one end as at 22 to the bar or member 20 such asby means of a hinge or otherwise, are braces 23, any number of which maybe provided and which may be of any desired width and constructed of anysuitable material. These braces are of a length to extend across one ofthe frame members and each of the braces is provided with an opening 24in thefree end thereof and which opening is adapted to engage over aprojection 25 secured to the frame member 10, thereby forming a braceand reinforcing member for the frame which consists of the members 10and 12, so that when the bag is closed and the same is lifted by thehandles 11, the lock 16 will be relieved of the strain of the weight ofthe contents of the bag.

These braces 23 and the projections 25 are preferably located in closeproximity to the lock 16 and preferably one on each side of the lock.

In order to brace or reinforce the frame member 15 to which the sidemembers 14 are connected, there is provided a formation 26 which isconnected with each of the braces or members 23. This formation may beof any desired configuration and constructed of any suitable materialand is shaped to form a laterally projecting lip or lug 27 so positionedthat when the bag is closed, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, and asshown partially closed in Figure 4c, the lip or projection 27 will passunder and engage the lower edge of the frame member 15 and thereby forma support for the latter.

The projection 27 is so arranged with re spect to the opening 2% in thebrace 23 that it will not extend over the opening and will not interferewith the projection of the lug 25 through the opening 24:.

If desired the formation 26 shaped that it will engage over of the flap21, as at 28.

If desired the braces 23 may be concealed within the flap 21 and when soconcealed the format-ion 26 will engage over the top of the flap.However, the braces 23 and formation 26 may be made independently of theflap and when made independently, the formation 26 may be connected tothe braces 23 for a pivotal movement so that it may be moved intoposition to engage over the edge of the flap when the flap rests againstthe brace, or if desired the edge of the flap maybe so shaped as topermit the projection 27 to extend beyond the flap when the flap is inthe position shown in Figure 1.

In. the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the braces 23 may bedispensed with and the member 26 may be secured to the flap 21 by theeyelet forming the opening 2 1- so that the member 15 will be supporteddirectly from the member 10 when the frame sections are closed withrespect to each other.

Obviously any other form of means may be provided for supporting themember 15 from the member 10.

Vith this improved construction it will be manifest that both of theframe members 10 and 15 will be reinforced and strengthened and the lock16 will also be protected so as to prevent injury thereto.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it is ma] be so the top edge to be understood that variouschanges may be made in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope ofthe claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

hat is claimed as new is 2- 1. A bag of the character describedembodying co-operating frames connected together along one edge forhinged movement one with relation to the other, a member extending alongthe said edge, a flap flexibly secured along one edge adjacent saidmember, a bracing member connected with the flap, means pivotallyanchoring one end of said bracing member to the first said member, icansdetachably anchoring the free end of said bracing member to one of theframes at a point opposite the first recited member for bracing saidframe, and means connected with said brace extending under and forming adirect support for the proximate edge of the other frame by said bracingmember.

2. A bag of the character described embodying co-operating framesconnected together along one edge for hinged movement one with relationto the other, a member extending along the said edge, a flap flexiblysecured along one edge adjacent said member, a bracing member connectedwith the flap, means pivotally anchoring one end of said bracing memberto the first said member, means detachably anchoring the free end ofsaid bracing member to one of the frames at a point opposite the firstrecited member for bracing the frame, and means connected with saidbrace and projecting beneath and directly engaging the proximate edge ofthe other frame to form a. support for the last said edge by saidbracing member.

8. A bag of the character described embodying co-operating framesconnected together along one edge for hinged movement one with relationto the other, a member extending along said edge, a brace, means pivotally connecting one end of the brace with said member, interengagingmeans between the brace and a portion of one of the frames opposite tosaid member for bracing said frame, and interengaging means between thebrace and the other frame opposite to the hinged side of the latterwhereby the free edge of both of said frames will be directly bracedfrom said member.

4. A bag of the character described embodying co-operating framesconnected together along one edge for hinged movement one with relationto the other, a member extending along said edge, a brace pivotallyconnected by one end to said member and extending across said frames,and interengaging means between the said brace and the edges of both ofsaid frames opposite the said member whereby the free edge of both ofsaid frames will be directly braced from said member.

5. A bag of the character described embodying co-operating framesconnected together along one edge for hinged movement one with relationto the other, a member extending along said edge, a brace pivotallyconnected by one end to said member and extending across said frames,detachable interengaging means between the brace at the free end of thelatter and one of the frames opposite to said member, and meansconnected with said brace adjacent its free end and engaging under theother frame opposite the said member whereby the free edge of both ofsaid frames will be directly braced from said member.

6. A bag of the character described embodying co-operating frame membersconnected together along one edge for hinged movement one with relationto the other, a flap flexibly secured along one edge between said framemembers, interengaging means between the free edge of the flap and oneof said frame members, and means connected with one of the parts of saidinterengaging means and adapted to project under the other frame memberfor directly bracing and supporting the last said frame member, whensaid frame members are closed with respect to each other whereby thefree edge of both of said frames will be directly braced from a pointadjacent their hinge by the said flap.

7. A bag of the character described em- 2 bodying co-operating framemembers connected together along one edge for hinged movement one withrelation to the other, a flap flexibly secured along one edge betweensaid frame members, interengaging means between the free edge of theflap and one of said frame members, and means connected with one of theparts of said interengaging means and adapted to directly engage andsupport the other frame member when the frame members are closed withrespect to each other whereby the free edge of both frames will bedirectly braced by the said flap. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, onthis 18th day of May, A. D. 1928.

OSCAR I. SINGER.

